Paper-receptacle.



L. W. CHARLTON.

PAPER REUEPTAGLE.

APPLIOATION FILED MAR. 11, 1910.

Patented June 14, 1910.

2 SHEETSSHEET 1."

M co. Pn nauwuflmmrns. WASHINGTON, o. c.

L. W. CHARLTON.

PAPER REOEPTAGLE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 11, 1910.

Patented June 14, 1910.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2,

LUTHER W. CHARLTON, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

PAPER RECEPTAGLE.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented J une 14, 1910,

Application filed March 11, 1910. Serial No. 548,642.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LUTHER W. CHARL- TON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Washington, in the District of Columbia, have invented new and useful Improvements in Paper Receptacles, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in paper receptacles, and more particularly to an envelop which may be styled a self looking envelop.

It is the object of this invention to provide an envelop particularly for the use in carrying on correspondence through the mail, which may not be surreptitiously opened or tampered with without mutilating in such a manner as to be noticeable when delivered.

This invention may be readily applied to envelops of any size and for any purpose.

It is a further object of this invention to so construct the envelop with the sealing and locking device that it will differ very little in appearance from the envelop in use today, and in such a manner that the envelop may be locked during the operation of sealing with but very little extra exertion.

The advantages are obvious. WVith this form of envelop lock it is impossible to open the envelop either by steaming or by inserting a thin sharp instrument without mutilating the closures insuch a manner as to be immediately noticeable by the proper party receiving the letter or package. The construction requires but a slight change in the blanks for forming the envelops, the lock will slide naturally into position without the aid of any instrument, and when the lock is in position, and the envelop is sealed no extra thickness is occasioned thereby.

While the preferred form of this invention is illustrated upon the accompanying sheets of drawing, yet it is to be understood that minor detail changes may be made without departing from the scope thereof.

Figure 1 is a plan view of the blank for forming the envelop illustrating the preferred form of this invention. Fig. 2 is a rear plan view of a completed envelop with the upper flap extended before sealing. Fig. 3 is a rear plan view of the sealed envelop. Fig. 4 is a plan view of the blank from which a modified form of this envelop is made. Fig. 5 is a rear plan view of the envelop formed from the blank shown in Fig. 4, just before the lower rear flap is secured in place. Fig. 6 isa rear plan View of the completed envelop with the top flap extended showing a modification of the form shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3.

Fig. 1 shows the main body 1 or front of the envelop having the customary side flaps 2 and 8, bottom flap 4, and top flap 5 adapted to be folded over upon each other and secured in place by gumming the edges in the usual manner. The side flaps 2 and 3 are of such width that when folded in upon the body 1 there will be a space left between their adjacent extremities 6 and 7 on each side of the center line. The upper portions of the side flaps are inclined slightly downward and then extend parallel with the upper edge of the envelop body or front. hen the side flaps are folded inward upon the body their adjacent extremities or sides 6 and 7 extend downward parallel with the center line a distance about equaling the distance between the extremities, as seen in Fig. 2. The bottoms of the flaps are curved slightly inward from the lower extremity of the adjacent sides and then extend downward in a straight line at an angle to the center line and are curved at the lower extremity to meet the bottom line of the main body or front of the envelop. The bottom 8 of the lower flap 4 is parallel with the bottom of the main body of the envelop, and of such a distance therefrom that when it is folded upward and over the inturned side flaps 2 and 3 it will be in line with the flat portion of the side flaps parallel With the upper edge of the envelop body. The sides of the bottom flap are tapered, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The bottom of the lower flap is provided with two tabs 9 and 10, as shown in Fig. 1, having a space 11 between them on each side of the center line corresponding with the space between the two side flaps 2 and 3 when turned in upon the body of the envelop. l/Vhen the lower flap 4 is turned up over the two inturned side flaps 2 and 3, the two tabs 9 and 10 are bent in over the upper extremities of the side flaps and will securely engage the flap 4. The tabs are of such construction as to follow the outline of the inner extremities of the side flaps, as shown in dotted lines on Fig. 2. The side edges of the lower flap and the entire surface of each of the tabs are covered with an adhesive material or glue which secures the lower flap in position upon the side flaps, as

well as securing the inner end of the side flap between the tab and upper body portion I i the shoulers let and 15.

of the lower flap. The upper flap 5 is provided with a struck out tongue 12 so positioned as to be inserted behind the lower flap 4 when the upper flap 5 is closed, and so constructed that a narrowed portion 13 thereof will lie between the adjacent extremities of the side flaps with a larger portion lying under the shoulders 14 and 15 formed by the curved lower edges of the side flaps 2 and 3. The outer surface of this tongue and the under edges of the upper flap are gummed by which the tongue and upper flap may be secured in position when the upper flap is folded downward in closed position. The lower edges of the side flaps are provided with a plurality of parallel slits 16, which will cause the mutilation of the envelop should a sharp pointed instrument be inserted between them and the back flap in an attempt to surreptitiously open the envelop. As seen in Fig. 3, the tongue is struck out so that when in the locked or sealed position it will fit snugly behind the upper portion of the lower flap and below The tongue is provided with a central slit 17 extending through the restricted port-ion to within a short distance from the main body of the flap. This is to cause mutilation should a sharp instrument be inserted between the main body of the flap and the lower flap in an attempt to remove the tongue 12 surreptitiously.

Fig. 1 illustrates a modification in which the side flaps 2 and 3 overlap each other and are provided with cut out portions cor responding in contour to the tongue 12 struck out upon the upper flap 5. The cut out portions 18 and 19 on the side flaps are so arranged that they will coincide when the flaps are secured together as shown in Fig. 5. The lower flap 4 in this case is not provided with the tabs shown in Fig. 1. The lower flap is secured to the back flaps in the usual manner thereby forming a recess portion adapted to receive the tongue 1:2 when the envelop is sealed. The outer surface of the tongue is gummed, so that when the envelop is sealed and the tongue inserted behind the side fiaps, it will be secured to the inner side of the lower flap, and be surrounded by the adjacent portions of the two side flaps.

Fig. 6 is another modification, and is constructed similar to Fig. 1, with the exception that the tabs on the lower flap P are omitted. In this case the restricted portion 13 of the tongue will pass between the adjacent ends 6 and 7 of the side flaps 2 and 3 and the enlarged portion of the tongue will fall beneath the shouldered portions 1 1 and 15 of these flaps, so that when the tongue is inserted behind the back in sealing the envelop, the enlarged portion will lie beneath the shouldered portion of the side flaps.

In each case a very neat and compact lock is formed by the enlarged portion of the tongue lying beneath the shouldered or recessed portion of the side flaps, which will prevent the withdrawal of the tongue after it has been sealed in position by engagement with the shouldered portion of the side flaps, so that if the tongue is withdrawn the enlarged portion will be separated from the restricted part.

hat I claim is 1. In an envelop, a main or front body portion, side flaps, a bottom flap adapted to be secured over the side flaps, a top flap adapted to be sealed over the bottom flap, a tongue struck out of the top fiap adapted to be inserted over the top of the side and bottom flaps between the bottom flap and the main or front body portion, said tongue provided with an elongated narrow neck joining the top flap adjacent the main or front body portion and having an enlarged free end portion, said side flaps having cut away portions to receive the narrow neck between them forming shoulders above the enlarged free end portions, and means for securing the tongue in place upon the back flap with the neck between the side flaps and the enlarged portion below the shoulders thereon.

2. In an envelop, amain or front body portion, side flaps, a bottom flap, and top flap, a tongue having an elongated narrow neck and an enlarged free end portion struck out of the top flap, said neck having a longitudinal slot therein, said side flaps provided with cut away portions allowing the entire tongue to engage the inner side of the bottom flap, said cut away portions forming shoulders, means upon the tongue to secure the same to the inner side of the back flap with the enlarged portion below the shoul ders and tabs upon the bottom flap adapted to be turned in to engage the inner side of the side flaps for reinforcing the shoulders.

3. In an envelop, a main or front body portion, side flaps, a back flap, and a top flap, a tongue having an enlarged free end struck out of the top flap, said side flaps provided with cut away portions allowing the tongue to engage the inner side of the bottom flap and forming shoulders upon the side flaps, tabs upon the bottom flap adapted to be turned over and secured to the inner upper portions of the side flaps on each side of the cut away portion and reinforcing the shoulders, means upon the tongue to secure the same to the inner side of the back flap with the enlarged portion below the reinforced shoulders.

LUTHER WV. CHARLTON.

Witnesses LANGDON Moomi, 

